Shattered Dreams: When Love Becomes a Nightmare

A few days later, Liana called to say she needed to work late again. I pretended to be concerned over the phone, suggesting that maybe she should quit her job since she didn't need to help with the mortgage anymore.

She replied coyly, "Honey, that's not right. Modern women who don't work are like birds with clipped wings. Don't think you can sweet-talk me into becoming a housewife."

In the past, I would have wholeheartedly agreed with her. After all, we had the same level of education and similar outlooks on life. We both believed that no one should be idle in today's society, and work was essential.

But now, her words grated on my nerves. I couldn't help but laugh bitterly to myself. Tonight, I was determined to find out who the man she was holding hands with was.

I sighed and asked, "Sweetheart, how late will you be working? It's not safe to be out too late. Should I pick you up?"

She quickly responded, "I'm not sure yet. Honey, you can just go to bed first. I'll take a taxi home later."

Knowing she was lying, I didn't press the issue further. I ended the conversation quickly.

Then I opened the location-tracking app on my phone. She probably didn't even know that her phone was still linked to mine. It was a setup I had made while she was asleep.

Her password was ridiculously easy to guess. I had told her numerous times about the dangers of shared passwords, but she always found it too troublesome to change them.

The tracker showed that she wasn't at her office. Instead, she was at a barbecue restaurant around five miles from home.

We used to go there often because Liana loved it so much. Even when I was tired after work, I'd drive her there whenever she wanted.

I was familiar with the road. But tonight, I was gripped by despair while driving.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I parked in a corner by the road. Instead of rushing in, I cracked the window and observed through the big glass windows.

Liana seriously underestimated me. The two of them were sitting by the window, facing each other. Though the glass was clouded with grease and barbecue smoke, I could recognize her instantly. After all, she was someone I had spent five years loving.

The man sitting across from her, though, looked unfamiliar at first. But with a second glance, I thought he seemed vaguely familiar.

The guy looked so happy, while Liana, all smiles, kept grilling meat and serving it to him. She had never been so attentive to me.

Anger coursed through me as I pulled out my phone, zoomed in as much as I could, and took pictures of them.

Then I drove back home and went to sleep.

Until I had concrete evidence, I wasn't going to let my emotions cause me to act impulsively and tip her off.